2012 -- S 2957

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LC02638

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF AMERICO D.

TESTA

     Introduced By: Senators Lanzi, and Metts

     Date Introduced: May 16, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of

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Americo Domenico-Lucio Testa, a true leader, a visionary, and the founder of the Santa Maria

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DiPrata Society; and

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     WHEREAS, Americo was born in Prata Sannita Provincia, Caserta, Italy, in 1929 to the

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late Carlo and Maria (Storti) Testa. He and his family came to America and settled in Cranston,

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RI, in the 1940’s; and

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     WHEREAS, Americo was the beloved husband of Elisabetta (Girardi) Testa, the beloved

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father of AnnMarie DiBiasio and her husband, Arcangelo, Carlo Testa and his wife, Robin,

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Americo Testa and his wife, Luana, and Elisabeth Lucia Testa, and the loving brother of

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Giovannia Lanni, Giuseppina Pellegrino, and the late Lucia Riccio. Americo was also the very

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proud grandfather of Angelo DiBiasio, Michelle McGreevy, Americo and Ashley Testa, and

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Jayden and Michael Testa, and the great grandfather of Andrew, Sophia, and Amelia DiBiasio,

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and Liliana and Natalia McGreevy; and

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     WHEREAS, Americo was a prominent and respected businessman and member of the

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community. A carpenter by trade, Americo turned his house building skills into a thriving

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business, the Americo D. Testa Building Company, Inc.; and

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     WHEREAS, A profoundly religious man, Americo, along with Father Angelo Susin, the

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former Pastor of St. Rocco’s Church, and 28 other founding members, established the Santa

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Maria DiPrata Society in 1986. Not only was Americo a founder of the society, but he also served

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as its president; and

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     WHEREAS, A kind-hearted and selfless person who consistently prioritized the needs of

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others, Americo would regularly house immigrant Italian families until they were able to become

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self sufficient; and

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     WHEREAS, Above all, Americo cherished his family and the time they spent together.

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From cultivating his olive and fig trees, to playing cards with friends, to watching his

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grandchildren and great grandchildren grow, Americo provided a loving model of how to enjoy

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the simple pastimes in life; and

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     WHEREAS, Even though we are diminished by the passing of Americo, so we must

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celebrate the spirit, endless generosity, and the compassion with which he lived every day of his

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life; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire Testa Family on the passing of Americo D.

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Testa; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the State be and he hereby is authorized and directed

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to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Elisabetta Testa and Family.

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LC02638

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